Midnight 3DS Launch Underwhelms in New York

[Dastardly]

Midnight 3DS Launch Underwhelms in New York

Nintendo's midnight launch of the 3DS went nearly unnoticed by the New York public.

Read Full Article

It's a $100 gimmick, and no one in the mainstream world has been able to test it out. Not sending demo units to every store they could manage has made this a marketing problem from the start.

Early reports of the 3D haven't helped. Folks turning the slider down after a few hours, folks complaining that you have to hold it too still (defeating one of the purposes of a portable system), and a "meh" assortment of launch titles shoe-horning 3D into the game.

It's just not worth $100 more dollars on the chance that the gimmick will be super awesome, and totally not get old after a few hours.

 

[Gorden Springel]

The way I see it is the problem they have is their launch titles, absolutely not a single one is an RPG and not a single one interests me in the slightest.

 

[vid87]

I've seen maybe one ad for the thing total. I honestly didn't know it was coming out so soon. My guess for the tepid launch is just plain lax marketing.

 

[Danpascooch]

This is what happens when you launch a game system without a SINGLE GOOD THING TO PLAY ON IT!

 

[Xanthious]

I think the luke warm launch of the 3DS has to do with many factors. First of them being promotion. Outside of gaming and tech sites I've really not seen too much about the 3DS. Although in the past week I've seen the occasional TV spot but largely this thing is launching with zero promotion behind it.

Secondly, I think is the launch titles. Holy hell could they have put out a more anemic set of launch titles? There isn't a single one of those titles that are a must have game. No matter how impressive your hardware might be you have to have good software to support it and the 3DS currently has garbage software.

Thirdly, outside of the addition of 3D and a few extra bells and whistles this thing isn't a whole lot better than DSi. Also, I just don't think that the 3D gimmick is going to be as much of a selling point here in the US as Nintendo is betting it will be. The few people I know that have 3DSs have said that it's cool, but it's very particular on how you have to hold it and after a while it loses that "WoW" factor.

Finally, and you can read up a few posts to read a more detailed explanation, I think most people are making due with the gaming available to them on their iPhones and/or Android phones. How much time do you think your average person has to really game on the go? Not much I'd wager and what time they do have is probably filled just fine by the selection of much lower priced games available on their existing phones. Asking someone to drop 300 dollars for a new system and game when they already have a phone with games is a pretty tough sell if they aren't a hardcore gamer.

To wrap it up I think the 3DS is going to have a tougher time catching on than most people would believe. The market that was once there for portable consoles is shrinking and while I don't think it will be a total failure I don't think it's going to do anywhere near the numbers the DS has done.

 

[rees263]

I bet a lot of people don't even know that it's different to the regular DS. I mean it doesn't look all that different, and casual consumers with only a passing interest likely won't do any research themselves into what it can do.

 

[faefrost]

The problem is the 3DS is more than a bit schizophrenic about what portion of the "Gamer" niche market it is going for.

The DS was a rousing success in large part because it challenged and brought in the non traditional gamer. The casual gamers that we so often chat about. It brought in the railroad commuting dad, the suburban housewife, etc. The person who wanted fun games and not just more FPS's. It was perfect for this large aging baby boomer population. It appealed to them as a portable extension of their classic consoles, that they could take on the train or into work. Plus it plays these neat new casual games that aren't so twitchy as all the new stuff. Everybody wins!

So how exactly does amping up the processing power, graphics and throwing a 3d gimmick at it add any value for this consumer base? 3d Mahjong? For how much? When it costs 99c on their iPhone? The base DS DSxl and DSLites already on the market suit their needs. If forced to make a decision point on this new hardware they will look at the phones they already have.

The traditional hardcore gamers. Those who do spend more money in exchange for gaming power currently have their attention more focused on SONY's two new offerings. The Xperia Play and the PSP2 (or whatever they are calling it this week) They may buy into the 3DS just because they are rampant gaming consumers. But only if there are several killer games to do so with. This group of consumers long ago learned not to jump on gimmicks. And really doesn't seem to be chomping at the bit for the 3DS. Marketing failed to attract any real buzz here, and even worse the various gaming related webcomics have been making fun of the thing for months. The webcomics have been doing a much better job than Nintendo's marketing to a degree that much of the more crazed gamer community (ie us!) has been left with the impression that it is a at best quirky system, that has to be held just right, in perfect conditions, may cause headaches, seizures or blurred vision, may damage small children's eyesight, has next to no battery life, and spies on you at every step you take and reports it all back to Nintendo like a little pocket Judas. I am guessing that this is not the marketing platform that Nintendo planned on launching with...

So this leaves the die hard true blue Nintendo4Life fans as the launch target audience. You know the ones that have Zelda tattoos (oops, wait no Zelda game yet) or Mario tattoos (nope not here either). Ok, the ones that have Pokemon tattoos (ummmm? Bad news sunshine, they are already playing it on their DS's). Hmmm? So they are targeting the rabid Nintendo loving 3d submarine simulator fan? SteelDiver4Evah?

It's kind of sad seeing Nintendo drop the ball this badly on this one. I know they have had their flops (Virtual Boy anyone?) But they are normally so good at this, and the 3DS started out with so much good word of mouth buzz when it first showed up at CES. It stole the show out from under MS and SONY.

 

[Electrogecko]

Portable consoles are just a tough sell now. Why would someone want to buy a device dedicated to just gaming when they could have a device that does gaming, and mp3s, and doubles as a digital camera, and offers fully functioning web browser, and so on and so on. Oh, and games on this much more versatile device cost a fraction of what they cost on a portable console.

Of course I get the gist of your opinion and I agree, but I feel obligated to point out that the 3DS has all the things you just listed, though we're not aware of the specs of the browser and the digital camera is a pretty low quality 3d camera.

The problem is the 3DS is more than a bit schizophrenic about what portion of the "Gamer" niche market it is going for.

The traditional hardcore gamers. Those who do spend more money in exchange for gaming power currently have their attention more focused on SONY's two new offerings. The Xperia Play and the PSP2 (or whatever they are calling it this week) They may buy into the 3DS just because they are rampant gaming consumers. But only if there are several killer games to do so with. This group of consumers long ago learned not to jump on gimmicks. And really doesn't seem to be chomping at the bit for the 3DS. Marketing failed to attract any real buzz here, and even worse the various gaming related webcomics have been making fun of the thing for months. The webcomics have been doing a much better job than Nintendo's marketing to a degree that much of the more crazed gamer community (ie us!) has been left with the impression that it is a at best quirky system, that has to be held just right, in perfect conditions, may cause headaches, seizures or blurred vision, may damage small children's eyesight, has next to no battery life, and spies on you at every step you take and reports it all back to Nintendo like a little pocket Judas. I am guessing that this is not the marketing platform that Nintendo planned on launching with...

So this leaves the die hard true blue Nintendo4Life fans as the launch target audience. You know the ones that have Zelda tattoos (oops, wait no Zelda game yet) or Mario tattoos (nope not here either). Ok, the ones that have Pokemon tattoos (ummmm? Bad news sunshine, they are already playing it on their DS's). Hmmm? So they are targeting the rabid Nintendo loving 3d submarine simulator fan? SteelDiver4Evah?

It's kind of sad seeing Nintendo drop the ball this badly on this one. I know they have had their flops (Virtual Boy anyone?) But they are normally so good at this, and the 3DS started out with so much good word of mouth buzz when it first showed up at CES. It stole the show out from under MS and SONY.

Wow I don't even know what to say to this. First of all, your definition of a hardcore gamer is my definition of a tech junkie. I think most "hardcore" gamers should look for the best games, not the best hardware. Idk who's been making fun of the system for months or who "has been left with the impression that it is a at best quirky system, that has to be held just right, in perfect conditions, may cause headaches, seizures or blurred vision, may damage small children's eyesight, has next to no battery life, and spies on you at every step you take and reports it all back to Nintendo like a little pocket Judas." Nobody has heard these things (least of all the "crazed gamer community") because half of them are not true, and in case you haven't heard, the 3d can be turned down or off. (and I'm having absolutely no problems maintaining full 3d view for long periods of time) You're using information selectively instead of objectively. Wasn't there an article on this very sight just yesterday that stated that optometrists view on the system was that it was more beneficial than hazardous?....and that it had twice as many preorders as the Wii? And the games are coming very soon. I'm looking forward to a new 3d Mario, Paper Mario, Mario Kart, Phoenix Wright vs Professor Layton, Ocarina of Time 3d, Starfox 3d, possibly all of which are coming this year. Add to that whatever we're gonna be shown at E3, and Nintendo fans have plenty of reason to buy the system and lots to look forward to.

 

[mjc0961]

Eh, Nintendo's main problem here is focusing on the 3D too much as the main selling feature. Every other feature the system has is a better addition than 3D, but they made the mistake of calling it 3DS (which will probably cause confusion among customers who don't pay attention) and making the only commercial I've seen so far focus only on that feature. That's a mistake; 3D is just a gimmick, and only advertising that makes some people either not pay attention or think it's just another DS but with a 3D screen this time. Really bad idea.

They need to fix their marketing, and also get some GAMES out. Holding back all the Mario and Zelda and other well established first party franchises to try and give their 3rd party support a bigger showing a launch was a nice thought, but it fails miserably when what they serve up is a pile of ports that aren't particularly well done. Yes, I really want to play the 50th port of Rayman 2 and the latest Bust-a-Move! Not. No must have games at launch = only the biggest Nintendo fans getting one at launch, and even then there are so many of them saying "I'm not getting any games right now, I just want to get one before the shortages we saw for the DS and Wii kick in."

Also the price. Having Iwata say that it costs so much just because of excitement was kind of a shit move. Sure, it apparently didn't matter to people in Japan and Europe, and we've yet to really see if it mattered too much to people in America, but you still lose some customers by saying "it only costs that much because people want it so bad that we know they'll buy it anyway."

The era of handheld consoles is largely over. Mobile gaming on the iPhone and Android OS is more than enough to fill most folks' need for gaming on the go. This is not to say the market is dead, because it isn't. It just become a somewhat of a niche market now relegated to hardcore gamers and children. However, even some hardcore gamers like myself have a hard time justifying spending 250 dollars on a new gaming console when at the same price I could upgrade my phone here in a month and get something like the Xperia Play.

Mobile gaming is evolving at a crazy rate and once where there were only games like solitaire and snake are now games like Infinity Blade and Spectral Souls. And it's only going to keep moving forward. Soon mobile gaming will be much closer than most people would think in terms of offering up similar quality games as the DS and PSP.

Portable consoles are just a tough sell now. Why would someone want to buy a device dedicated to just gaming when they could have a device that does gaming, and mp3s, and doubles as a digital camera, and offers fully functioning web browser, and so on and so on. Oh, and games on this much more versatile device cost a fraction of what they cost on a portable console.

If you can't see what a threat mobile gaming poses to portable consoles like the PSP2 and 3DS you are either blind or in denial. Mobile gaming is the natural evolution of things and will be competing in very big ways against the portable consoles like the 3DS.

Haha, great jokes. I think the real question is "Why would someone want to buy a device that does shallow games, a poor digital camera, plays MP3s but with bad battery life, a piss-poor web browser, and comes with an expensive monthly bill when what they want is to play great games?" Oh, and those cheaper games for your phone are cheaper because they have so little content, let's not forget that important detail. Smartphones do a lot, but they master none of it. I can get a better game platform. I can get a better digital camera. I can get a better MP3 player. I can get a device with a better web browser (it's called a laptop). Smartphones sacrifice quality for convenience, and while that might be good for just your average joe looking for something to dick around with while he waits in line at the DMV or something, gamers aren't buying them over dedicated gaming machines, photographers aren't buying them over quality cameras, and so on.

Smartphones may be taking away sales from other various electronics from casual users of other devices (game systems, cameras, better MP3 players, etc), but they aren't ending the "era" of any of those devices. And to think otherwise means that you are the ones who are truly blind and in denial.

Also, you underestimate Nintendo. They'll fix their marketing and come Christmas, everyone and their grandmother will be trying to get a 3DS, just like the DS and Wii before it.

Wow I don't even know what to say to this. First of all, your definition of a hardcore gamer is my definition of a tech junkie. I think most "hardcore" gamers should look for the best games, not the best hardware.

Agreed 100%. And considering that the Xperia Play is just a PSP glued to a phone, and I doubt anyone who already has a PSP and games that just like with the PSP Go can't be used on the Xperia Play is looking at the Xperia Play and going "I MUST HAVE THAT SO I CAN BUY ALL OF MY GAMES AGAIN!" after the levels of raw hatred the PSP Go received. If anything, they're just waiting for NGP news.

 

[faefrost]

Portable consoles are just a tough sell now. Why would someone want to buy a device dedicated to just gaming when they could have a device that does gaming, and mp3s, and doubles as a digital camera, and offers fully functioning web browser, and so on and so on. Oh, and games on this much more versatile device cost a fraction of what they cost on a portable console.

Of course I get the gist of your opinion and I agree, but I feel obligated to point out that the 3DS has all the things you just listed, though we're not aware of the specs of the browser and the digital camera is a pretty low quality 3d camera.

The problem is the 3DS is more than a bit schizophrenic about what portion of the "Gamer" niche market it is going for.

The traditional hardcore gamers. Those who do spend more money in exchange for gaming power currently have their attention more focused on SONY's two new offerings. The Xperia Play and the PSP2 (or whatever they are calling it this week) They may buy into the 3DS just because they are rampant gaming consumers. But only if there are several killer games to do so with. This group of consumers long ago learned not to jump on gimmicks. And really doesn't seem to be chomping at the bit for the 3DS. Marketing failed to attract any real buzz here, and even worse the various gaming related webcomics have been making fun of the thing for months. The webcomics have been doing a much better job than Nintendo's marketing to a degree that much of the more crazed gamer community (ie us!) has been left with the impression that it is a at best quirky system, that has to be held just right, in perfect conditions, may cause headaches, seizures or blurred vision, may damage small children's eyesight, has next to no battery life, and spies on you at every step you take and reports it all back to Nintendo like a little pocket Judas. I am guessing that this is not the marketing platform that Nintendo planned on launching with...

So this leaves the die hard true blue Nintendo4Life fans as the launch target audience. You know the ones that have Zelda tattoos (oops, wait no Zelda game yet) or Mario tattoos (nope not here either). Ok, the ones that have Pokemon tattoos (ummmm? Bad news sunshine, they are already playing it on their DS's). Hmmm? So they are targeting the rabid Nintendo loving 3d submarine simulator fan? SteelDiver4Evah?

It's kind of sad seeing Nintendo drop the ball this badly on this one. I know they have had their flops (Virtual Boy anyone?) But they are normally so good at this, and the 3DS started out with so much good word of mouth buzz when it first showed up at CES. It stole the show out from under MS and SONY.

Wow I don't even know what to say to this. First of all, your definition of a hardcore gamer is my definition of a tech junkie. I think most "hardcore" gamers should look for the best games, not the best hardware. Idk who's been making fun of the system for months or who "has been left with the impression that it is a at best quirky system, that has to be held just right, in perfect conditions, may cause headaches, seizures or blurred vision, may damage small children's eyesight, has next to no battery life, and spies on you at every step you take and reports it all back to Nintendo like a little pocket Judas." Nobody has heard these things (least of all the "crazed gamer community") because half of them are not true, and in case you haven't heard, the 3d can be turned down or off. (and I'm having absolutely no problems maintaining full 3d view for long periods of time) You're using information selectively instead of objectively. Wasn't there an article on this very sight just yesterday that stated that optometrists view on the system was that it was more beneficial than hazardous?....and that it had twice as many preorders as the Wii? And the games are coming very soon. I'm looking forward to a new 3d Mario, Paper Mario, Mario Kart, Phoenix Wright vs Professor Layton, Ocarina of Time 3d, Starfox 3d, possibly all of which are coming this year. Add to that whatever we're gonna be shown at E3, and Nintendo fans have plenty of reason to buy the system and lots to look forward to.

You are nitpicking between hardcore gamer and tech junkie. For these purposes the target niche is pretty much the same. Those who will regularly spend a great deal of their disposable income on the latest and greatest games and game gear.

Regarding your reaction to the claims about the lashing the thing has been taking amongst the gaming humor and webcomics community. Ummm? I can only assume you don't actually read the site that you are posting on, do you?
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/comics/critical-miss/8710-Critical-Miss-3-Distress
The "Judas" line is a direct quote from one of the regular features here. Alot of similar posting have gone up throughout the web. Some of the more notable ones over at ctrl-alt-del, Dorkly, etc. Oh and did we mention Yesterdays PENNY ARCADE? Gee not many gamers read that.
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2011/3/28/

 

[Xanthious]

Haha, great jokes. I think the real question is "Why would someone want to buy a device that does shallow games, a poor digital camera, plays MP3s but with bad battery life, a piss-poor web browser, and comes with an expensive monthly bill when what they want is to play great games?" Oh, and those cheaper games for your phone are cheaper because they have so little content, let's not forget that important detail.

Smartphones are evolving much faster than you think. My Incredible, which is over a year old, has HD video recording and a really good camera. Furthermore, Android phones that are updated as far as 2.1 have fully functioning web browsing capabilities complete with flash support. As for games, those too are evolving. You only need to look as far as some of the titles coming out on the Xperia Play. Or if those aren't your thing you also have Infinity Blade on the iPhone, multiple Square Enix RPGs on iOS and, Spectral Souls (A fully developed SRPG with over 60 hours of content) on both iOS and Android

Smartphones do a lot, but they master none of it. I can get a better game platform. I can get a better digital camera. I can get a better MP3 player. I can get a device with a better web browser (it's called a laptop). Smartphones sacrifice quality for convenience, and while that might be good for just your average joe looking for something to dick around with while he waits in line at the DMV or something, gamers aren't buying them over dedicated gaming machines, photographers aren't buying them over quality cameras, and so on.

To your average person convenience is a big thing. There are far more casual consumers than there are hardcore gamers. Who the hell wants to carry around multiple devices when there is one that can more than cover their needs. Furthermore, how many people really have time to sit around and play portable consoles for any extended amount of time? Most people who have that kind of time and want to game have the ability to do so on a console like the 360 or PS3 or PC. For most people the gaming capabilities of your average smartphone is more than enough to satisfy any on the go gaming needs.

Smartphones may be taking away sales from other various electronics from casual users of other devices (game systems, cameras, better MP3 players, etc), but they aren't ending the "era" of any of those devices. And to think otherwise means that you are the ones who are truly blind and in denial.

No, the markets will certainly live on but I will wager that portable gaming is going to quickly get put aside in a niche market made up of hardcore gamers and children. However, as mobile devices continue to evolve they will continue to take larger shares of portable market as more and more they will be able to offer a competitive product to that of the DSs and other such portable consoles.

Also, you underestimate Nintendo. They'll fix their marketing and come Christmas, everyone and their grandmother will be trying to get a 3DS, just like the DS and Wii before it.

I will be shocked if the 3DS does anywhere near the numbers the original DS has accomplished. With far too big of an entry price and the shrinking market for portable gaming as a whole the 3DS has an uphill battle ahead of it.

 

[DjInvictus]

I picked up the blue 3DS Saturday night, and I have to say I'm thoroughly pleased. It looks great, and while there are no "must-have" launch titles, I'm quite enjoying the ones I picked up (PilotWings, Ridge Racer, and Street Fighter). Add in Pokemon White (my first foray into the world of Pokemon) and Okamiden, and I have PLENTY to play until the heavy hitters like Zelda and Mario start landing.

I do think that waiting so long to get demo units into stores hurt the launch. It really is something you have to see and play yourself to realize how cool it is.

I'm interested to see what the software update in May brings to the device. Netflix functionality will be great. As for the web browser, I'm curious as to whether or not it will support Youtube or other video formats. If they can nail the eShop and start releasing some quality, low-priced titles, I think they've got it in the bag.

 

[Electrogecko]

Snip it all to hell

Yea comics are funny, but I'm not going to argue that Kinect is bad because it spies on you, takes photos of you in your underwear and posts them on the internet, and turns you into a furry. I would hope that most people don't rely on webcomics to get their facts.

Eyestrain? Sure yea some people more than others.

Hurting children's eyes? Safeguard from Nintendo that's been all but disproven.

Seizures? Umm.....no.

Spying on you....no more than Microsoft, Sony, and all other successful businesses monitor their customers. (ever heard of Walmart?) As we enter the digital age, this method will become Business 101.

Bad launch lineup? Pretty much....but an opinion all the same.....and I don't think it's as bad as the reviews indicate.

Congo situation......really?

 

[Susan Arendt]

short battery life, crappy launch titles, same shitty touchscreen as the ds which gets scratched to hell in a few hours of use, more expensive than a ps3. I'm surprised they managed to get as many people as they did.

Scratched to hell? What are you using to play games, a fork? I don't have a single scratch on any of my touch screens.

 

[zadra]

I was at that launch. I has SO much fun - aside from freezing my ass off to take photos and do interviews (none of which the pricks included in their videos) I guess my sacrifice to take off my coat and freeze to answer their questions in full costume wasn't good enough. I'm not a family friendly image for Nintendo. (OH MY, SPANDEX). Only one out of all those interviewers actually used my segment:
Dualshockers interview (2:45) [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfYUIXd79Tg]
And thank you very much, Dualshockers.

 

[zadra]

By the way, I didn't read everything on the first page concerning the system's flaws. I merely skimmed it. But I have to say I am enjoying my 3DS system greatly. The built in software which I expected to not give a rat's ass about, is actually quite entertaining - especially face raiders. My only complaint is the battery life.

But then again, look at the people that have to charge their nifty iphone/android thingies each and every single night due to the horrid batteries (I still use a RazR phone, I'm out of the high tech cell phone loop and plan on staying there). So it will be the same with the 3DS. Charge at night. If I bring mine to school to play on breaks, I'll bring a charger. No sweat really.

 

[BrotherRool]

I imagine if Nintendo are chasing the casual market, they are exactly the sort of people who don't turn up to midnight launches. Most of them are asleep.

So the 3DS might still do fine, I'd say this isn't much of an indicator

 

[zadra]

With street fighter as a launch title, I beg to differ. i think that alone is saying something.

 

[Nostalgia]

short battery life, crappy launch titles, same shitty touchscreen as the ds which gets scratched to hell in a few hours of use, more expensive than a ps3. I'm surprised they managed to get as many people as they did.

Perhaps people should stop having their animals claw their system? Mine is over two years old now and there are no scratches on either of my screens. People should learn to take good care of shit they don't want damaged.